Multishuttle shuttle changing loom



Aug. 9, 1933,

R. G. TURNER MULTISHUTTLE SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOM Filed Sept. 27, 1935 7Sheets-Sheet 1 Inventor Richard Greerdeai Turner Aug 9, 1938.. R. G.TURNER MULTISHUTTLE SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOM 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 ll HI Fi ledSept. 27, 1935 mafia a Inventor Richard GreemeaiTumer MW;

:r Attbrneys R. G. TURNER MULTISHUT'ILE SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOM '7Sheets-$heet 3 Filed Sept. 27, 1955 Invenloi- Rhzhard breenhai Turner Mvxklorneya Aug. 9, 1938. R. G. TURNER MULTISHUTTLE SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOMFiled Sept. 2'7, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIEILI Rio Fla. 6

FIG. 5

Invenk or Richard Breemea'i Turner Amer-us Filed Sept. 27, 1935 7Sheets-Sheet 5 Inventor Richard Greevdeafi Turner Aug. 9, 1938. R TURNER2,126,060

MULTISHUTTLE SHUTTLE CHANGI'NG LOOM I Filed Sept. 27, 1935 7Sheets-Sheet 6 nven or 1 Rwhard Greerdear Turner I? /WW 9, 1938. R. G.TURNER 2,126,060

MULTISHU'I'TLE SHUTTLE CHANGING LOOM Filed Sept. 27, 1935 7 Sheets-Sheet7 H) Position Lay .C.

Inventor- Patented Aug. 9, 1938 MnLrisnUTrLE SHUTTLE CHANGING 1.00

Richard Greenleaf Turner, Worcester, Mass, as-

signor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a. corporationof Massachue setts Application September 27, 1935, Serial No. 42,375

14. Claims.

This invention relates to multi-color shuttle changer looms and it isthe general object of the invention to provide a loom which ispreferably continuously running and capable of replacing any one ofseveral weaving shuttles upon exhaustion of weft.

So far as I am aware shuttle changing looms which have been usedcommercially have been limited to two-color work so far as the shuttlechanging features are concerned. Certain patterns call for a greatervariety of color than can be obtained with two shuttles and it is animportant object of my present invention to provide a loom which willautomatically exchange a dedesirable to secure the indication of weftexhaustion and operate the color control comparatively early in theshuttle changing operation. It is a further object of my presentinvention to provide a pattern mechanism wherein the indication for theshuttle changing mechanism will be at least one pick earlier than theindication for the ordinary box lifting mechanism.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide the reserveshuttle receiving mechanism with a box constructed somewhat differentlyfrom those heretofore employed in that it includes in its construction arear wall which assists in properly placing a shuttle which is movingfrom the magazine toward active position. As a continuation of this ideait is a further feature of my invention to provide a box cover whichshall have a shuttle grasping wall or lip to engage a rear surface ofthe shuttle and positively move the latter forwardly as the lay leavesshuttle changing position.

It is another object of my present invention to provide an improved formof reserve shuttle releasing mechanism which shall include in itsconstruction an element capable of having two different motions, one ofwhich is normal and the other of which occurs on shuttle releasing beatsof the loom and is dependent for its operation on interruption of thefirst movement.

A still further object of my present invention is to provide an improvedindication storing mechanism under the joint control of the weftdetector and the color selector to cooperate with a shuttle releasingmechanism and capable of retaining the setting which will call forreplacement of an exhausted shuttle which has passed out of actionimmediately after giving indication of weft exhaustion.

A further object of the invention relates to improved means foradvancing a reserve shuttle from the magazine to the shuttle changingbox structure.

When the loom operates with a Knowles head motion to control the boxesand harness the set ting of the color selection chain a whole pick aheadof the box chain would result in movement of the selector mechanismduring the detecting interval, thereby preventing correct cooperativerelation between the active shuttle being detected and the selector. Itis a further object of my invention to effect a delay in the selectormovement until time has been given the detector to indicate exhaustion.The specific means for accomplishing this result shown herein includes aselector gear cylinder set late with respect to the box gear cylinder,the late setting permitting cooperative relation between the selectorand active shuttle during detection, but causing selector movementimmediately after detection.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter described.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of myinvention is set forth.

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a loom having my invention appliedthereto,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the indication storing andreserve shuttle releasing mech-- anism shown at the bottom of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the structure shown in Fig.

Fig. 4 is a detailed vertical section on line 44 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view showing the lower end of the magazine shownin Fig. 1, but on an enlarged scale, illustrating the shuttle releasemechanism,

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section on line 6-6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. '7 is a vertical section through the reserve shuttle magazine forshuttle changing boxes, showing the mechanism for advancing a reserveshuttle from the magazine toward the shuttle receiving mechanism,

Fig. 8 is a front elevation taken in the direction of arrow 8, Fig. '7,

Fig. 9 is a view similar to certain parts shown in the lower part ofFig. 1, but indicating different positions,

Fig. 10 is a rear elevation of the head motion located at that end ofthe loom opposite the magazine end shown in Fig. 1,

Figs. 11 and 12 are diagrammatic views showing parts of the colorindication in different positions,

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a representative type of pattern chain to beused with the mechanism shown in Fig. 10,

Fig. 14 is a diagrammatic front elevation of the organized loom. showingthe connection between the color indication at the left end and themagazine at the right end,

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of the head motion,

Fig. 16 is a side elevation of the driving gear for the head motion,

Fig. 17 is a detached perspective diagrammatic view of the box and colorcylinder gears,

Fig. 18 is a diagram showing the time relations of the several parts ofthe invention, and

Fig. 19 is a detail plan view in the direction of arrow I9, Fig. 7.

In the following description I will set forth acceptable forms of thecolor selecting mechanism in Figs. 10 to 13, the weft detectingmechanism at the top left part of Fig. 1, the indication storingmechanism under the joint control of the color selector and weftdetector in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, the reserve shuttle selector controlled bythe color selector in Figs. 5, 6 and 14, the reserve shuttle releasemechanism and magazine in Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 9, the reserve shuttleadvancing mechanism in Figs. 1, '7 and 8, and the shifting boxesadjacent the magazine, shown in Fig. 1, which constitute the reserveshuttle receiving structure.

In general, it may be stated that the type of loom to which I haveapplied my invention employs shifting shuttle boxes, four in the presentinstance, at the left end of a loom, while the shuttle changingmechanism and the weft detector are both located at the opposite orright hand end of the loom, see Fig. 14. As the lay reachesapproximately its mid position when mov ing forwardly, or at bottomcenter, with the active shuttle at the drop box end, the box motion willstart the shifting of the drop boxes, and shifting is completed when thelay has reached approximately its mid position on the rearward strokethereof in time for picking, or at top center. Approximately one-quarterof a pick later when the lay is in back center position the re serveshuttle will be placed in a temporarily raised shuttle box under themagazine, while the active depleted shuttle will approach a lower boxwhich has been raised into alignment with the shuttle race for thepurpose, boxing occurring approximately at bottom center or shortlythereafter. There will then occur a downward shift of the temporarilyraised pair of shuttle boxes so that at the time of picking, half a beatafter the shift starts, the lay will be on top center with the freshreserve shuttle in picking position, the exhausted shuttle having beenexpelled from its box when the lay started its backward movement afterreaching front center and prior to picking of the fresh shuttle.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1, the loom frame F supports a rockershaft R about which the lay L swings. The lay has a lay end I providedwith a plate 2 slotted at 3 to receive a sliding picker not shown. Thelay moves back and forth in the loom by connectors 4 operated by the topshaft 5,

being shown in front center position in Fig. 1. Shaft is geared in theusual manner to the bottom shaft 6 in a 2 to 1 ratio, the top shaftmaking a revolution for each beat of the loom, While the bottom shaftrotates once in two beats. The frame supports a magazine M which in turncarries a weft detector W and there are also provided supports for thevarious mechanisms hereinbefore enumerated for coordinating themovements of the magazine to the end that a reserve shuttle may besupplied to correspond with the depleted shuttle which is about to bepicked from the drop box end of the loom toward the magazine.

As shown in Fig. 14 I provide a gang of boxes G having four cells I, II,III and IV any one of which may be aligned with a shuttle race I of thelay for as many pairs of picks as desired. While there are two shuttleboxes at the right hand end of the loom, as will be set forth more indetail hereinafter, yet only one of these boxes is normally active.

Head motion Referring to Fig. 16, the loom frame F supports an uprightshaft 8 carrying at its bottom a bevel gear 9 meshing with a similargear ID on a stub shaft ll suitably supported. An eccentric gear l2 onthe stub shaft meshes with a second eccentric gear I3 on the top shaft,and since the crank shaft turns at a constant rate, the stub and uprightshafts will turn with variable speeds.

The upright shaft has top and bottom bevel gears l4 and I5,respectively, meshing with similar gears rotating with top and bottomcylinder gears H and K, respectively, and hence the latter share thevariable rate of rotation of the upright shaft. Each cylinder gear has abox mutilated gear section I 6 and a similar color section II, the boxsection having teeth l8 and a blank area [9, while the color section hasteeth 2|] and a blank area 2!. The blank area of the color section has azone 22 extending a space equal in this instance to six teeth beyond thecorresponding area of the box section, having respect to the directionof rotation, so that the color section is later in coming to operativeposition than the box section by a time corresponding to six teeth, seeFig. 17. Each cylinder gear, with its box and color sections, rotatesonce for each beat of the loom, although this is not a necessaryrelation.

The head frame 25 supports a heel pin 26 on which are pivoted two boxvibrator levers 21 and 28, respectively, and each vibrator lever carriesa vibrator gear 29 attached to a connector 30. The connectors operatebox lifting levers 3i and 32 operatively connected to vibrators 21 and28, respectively, and lever 3| carries a sheave 33 for chain 34connected to lever 32. Levers 3| and 32 are pivoted at 35 and 36,respectively, and operate in well known manner to give the boxes G fourdifferent positions by the chain 34 which is attached to them. The boxvibrators are operated as usual and can place any one of the shuttleboxes in picking position.

The eccentric gears are set so that the cylinder sections are moving attheir slowest rate when the lay is on bottom center and fastest at topcenter, and furthermore, the box tooth section I8 is in position tostart moving the boxes at approximately bottom center, that is, slowtime for this particular setting of the head. By this relation arelatively large amount of lay motion is possible with a small angularmotion of the color section, and this timing, coupled with the color2.126,oco

pattern chain to be described, insures correct 00- operative relationbetween the exhaustion indicating shuttle and the magazine control partswhile at the same time affording a relatively long interval in whichactual exchange of shuttles can be effected.

Color selector If shifting of the color selector. and indication storingcontrollers were synchronous with box shifting, the indication would betoo late, since it would not be completed until picking from the boxend, or only one-quarter of a pick before the back center position wherethe reserve shuttle should be ready to drop into the temporarily raisedbox. The selection must therefore come earlier, but if the time be setahead one whole pick, the indication storing mechanism would be shiftingat front center when the feeler detects, with resultant confusion ofcolors in the shuttle change. It is necessary therefore to delayshifting of the indication storing mechanism until after the feeler hashad a chance to indicate exhaustion and set a storing indicatorcorresponding to the shuttle giving the indication.

The color selector and storing mechanism must remain in cooperativerelation with the active shuttle being detected until the feeler has hada chance to effect indication of exhaustion, after which movementspreparatory to release of a reserve shuttle can take place, suchmovements involving possibly a changed setting of parts due toanticipated return to action of a shuttle which indicated exhaustionjust before becoming inactive.

The desired timing may be obtained by building the chain so that theselectorrolls are one pick ahead of the corresponding box controllingrolls, and then delaying effective engagement of the selector cylindergear with the selector vibrator gear until the feeler has had time toindicate. The vibrator gear must have a certain motion to unlock theconnector during which there will be no appreciable motion of the colorcontrol parts, and furthermore, the eccentrics maybe set so that theslowest part of the vibrator gear motion comes before the detectoroperates. These various delays added together give the time required toallow the 'feeler to set a storingindicator before the color selectorhas had any considerable motion. I wish it to be understood, however,that I am not limited to the particular timing due to the setting of theeccentrics shown, since I have demonstrated that the slow time for thehead may occur when the lay is in other positions than that specified.The color selector on the head motion will now be described inconnection with Figs. 10, 11 and 12.

Two other vibrator levers 45 and 45 for the color indication areoperatively connected by means of vibrator gears 3'! and connectors 38to levers 4'5 and 48, respectively, moving about pivot 36. Each of thelevers 41 and 48 is capable of moving to either of two extremepositions, as.

indicated in Fig. 12, depending upon the direction of rotation of theassociatedvibrator gears.

A color selector control lever 50 is pivoted at 5| to the head frame andhas a depending arm 52 which is pivoted to a floating lever 53 at 54.The upper end of lever 53 is attached by top link 55 to selector leverl! at 56, while a bottom link 51 connects thelower end of the lever tothe othercolor selector lever 48 at 58. An upper arm 59 of the lever 50is attached to a depending connector 60 which extends downwardly undersheave Bl as shown in Fig. 14, across the loom, upwardly to the right ofsheave 62, and over to the right of a third sheave 63. The connector isattached as at 64 to the upper arm of a bell crank lever 65 pivoted tothe magazine frame and having a horizontal arm 66, see Fig. 6. A tensionspring Bl having one end attached to a supporting bracket 68 rigid withthe loom frame is attached to arm 64 and normally exerts a pull on theconnector 66. The latter is therefore constrained to move to the left ofFig. 6 by forces derived from levers 41 and 48, and to the right by thespring 6! when permitted to have such motion by the positions of saidlevers 41 and 48. Spring 61 also moves a color slide to be described bya force transmitted through lever 65.

In Fig. 13 I show a continuously running pattern chain P having fourspaces for rolls. The chain comprises cross bars 69 connected by links10 and fed over a chain shaft H shown in Fig. 15. The chain is assumedto move in the direction of arrow a in Figs. 10 and 13 and longitudinalrows 12 and T3 are occupied by the rolls M and 15 which positionvibrators 21 and 28 to control the usual box motion of the loom. Thehigh rolls 14 and low rolls [5 in these two rows 12 and '13 have beenset forth to give a varied sequence of motions for the gang of boxes Gto produce a desired pattern.

The other auxiliary rows 16 and 11 which I have added comprise highcolor rolls ?8 and low color rolls 19 in the same order as the rolls inrows 12 and 13 except that the rolls on the auxiliary added rows I6 andTE will have the same sequence as those in rows 12 and 13, respectively,but will be one bar ahead thereof. In other words, the first high colorrolls 18 at the right and bottom of Fig. 13 in rows 16 and ll andlocated on the second cross bar correspond to the high box rolls M inrows 12 and 13 which are to become operative one pick later. ment therolls of the auxiliary rows give their indications to theircorresponding vibrator gears 45 and 46 one pick before the correspondingbox rolls indicate the box motion.

The high rolls l8 and low rolls 19 on rows 16 and H are capable ofgiving the levers 41 and 48 four different relative positions withcorresponding rocking of the color control lever 50 to as many diiferentpositions. In Fig. 10 both levers 4'! and 48 are thrown to the left andthe floating lever 53 is therefore in its left-most positioncorresponding to the low position for connector 60 with the drop boxesdown and cell I active as indicated in Fig. 14. In Fig. 12 lever 48 hasbeen moved to the right while lever 4'? remains to the left, thesepositions being indicated in full lines, from which it will be seen thatthe pivot 56 has been moved to the next position to the right from theone shown in Fig. 10. Also, in Fig. 12, certain parts are indicated indotted lines to assume reversed positions for levers 41 and 38, thefloating lever 53 thereby being given its next step to the right. InFig. 11 both levers Q! and 48 have been thrown to the right and thecenter 54 is therefore in its right-most position with the result thatthe color control lever is given its extreme counter-clockwise positionto move connector 60 to its upper limit. This corresponds to the placingof cell IV in active position. The advance movement of lever 59 effectedby the reversal of the position of the levers 41 and 38 indicated inFig. 12 is due to the fact that the links 55 and 5'! are connected tosaid levers at different distances from the common axis 36. The fullline position of Fig. 12 coincides with the activity of box II while thedotted position corresponds to action on the part of box III.

The indication given by the high and low box rolls on rows I2 and I3must be completed before the time in the loom cycle for commencement ofbox shifting. The latter ordinarily starts with the lay at bottom centeron the pick which carries the active shuttle into one or another of thecells of the drop boxes, that is, indication from the pattern chain iscompleted before the shuttle is boxed "at the box end. of the loom.Inasmuch as the color rolls on the rows I6 and II are a pick ahead ofthe box rolls they complete their indication when the active shuttle isboxed on the plain or magazine end of the loom opposite the drop boxes.The color vibrators and gears are therefore placed when the lay ismoving forwardly and the active shuttle is boxed under the magazine. Theprevious indication corresponding to the active shuttle must beretained, however, until the detector can'operate, arid this short delayis effected by the location of tooth section 20.

The box cylinder picks up the box vibrator gears at a bottom center, orat protection, and this would be the time the color cylinder wouldengage the color vibrator gears, but as previously explained, this wouldinterfere with the weft detector. By having the zone 22 of sufficientlength it will be passing by the color vibrator gears while the laymoves the active shuttle forwardly to the detector, and the toothsection 20 will not engage the color vibrator gears until after thedetector to be described has had an opportunity to indicate weftexhaustion. This engagement will begin with the lay at or near frontcenter, and will continue during approximately half a beat, so that thelever 50 will be given its full throw by the time the lay reaches backcenter with the active shuttle traveling toward the drop boxes. At thistime, therefore, the arm 66 will have had time to assume a new positionand give rod 8| a new vertical setting. Rod 8| rises when the boxes areto have an up shift and descends when the boxes are to drop.

Weft detector mechanism The weft detector mechanism W is mounted on themagazine and therefore is in a position to detect the active shuttlewhen the latter is on the ries a two-prong electric detector 90 fromwhich lead tWo wires 9| and 92. The shuttles are provided with bobbinshaving metallic ferrules normally covered by weft, but upon approach ofweft exhaustion the ferrules are uncovered to permit electric connectionbetween the prongs 93, whereupon wires 9I and 92 are electricallyconnected.

A changing box lifting lever 94 carries an upstanding horn 95 on whichis mounted a solenoid 96, one side of which is connected to wire 92 andthe other side of which is connected by a wire. 91 to a source ofelectric power E which is also connected to wire 9|. It is apparent thatupon exhaustion of weft in a shuttle S, solenoid 96 will be energizedwith the lay in front center position. Energization of the solenoid'willlift armature 98 pivoted to a trip 99. The latter is pivoted to movearound rod I supported as indicated in Fig. 3 on the lever 94.

It will be seen with reference to the description given in connectionwith the color selecting mechanism that the detector indicatesexhaustion of weft with the lay on its front center position before thecolor selecting mechanism has moved appreciably, after which theselector moves. It will be seen that this result is accomplished by asingle feeler mounted to permit selective shuttle change asdistinguished from previous constructions wherein the detector mechanismwas unable to detect the active shuttle. The weft detector shown hereinmay if desired be substantially the same as shown in my co-pendingapplication Serial No. 667,464 where the detector is claimed.

Indication storing mechanism Lever 94 carries a second rod I 0| parallelto rod I00 and together these rods afford support for a sliding yoke I02pivotally connected to a positioning rod I03, see Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Thelatter is connected to a bell crank lever I04 pivoted as at I05 to astand I06 fixed to a stationary stud I 0'! which serves also as a pivotfor lever 94. As shown in Fig. 1 the lever I04 is connected to the lowerend of rod BI and it is by the connection just described that the yokeslides along rods I00 and IOI in response to changing positions of rod8| induced by the altering positions of the parts shown in Fig. 10. Inother Words, the yoke has positions corresponding to those of the cellsof the drop boxes illustrated in Fig. 14.

The yoke carries a pivot rod I08 on which are mounted four indicationstoring elements I09, IIO, III and H2. These elements are similar andeach includes a depending finger II3 for engagement with a dog H4, andeach element further has a head II5 slotted to receive a setting latch II6 pivoted to the head at I I I. One end of each latch as indicated at II8 is capable of moving into vertical alignment With the bent end I I 9of the trip 99, while the other end of the latch is formed with anabutting surface I20 to engage a stop rod I2I carried by the slidingyoke. A spring plunger I22 is operative to hold each indication storingelement yieldingly in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4, a stopbar I23 limiting movement of the heads.

The yoke slides with respect to the trip so that with the movements ofthe pattern chain one or another of the elements I09, IIO, III or II2becomes operatively relatable to the trip, and upon energizationof thesolenoid as already described the trip will be raised to engage the endII8 vertically aligned therewith and corresponding to the weavingshuttle which happens to be at the magazine side of the loom anddepleted.

Energization of the solenoid will rock the selected member II6 about itspivot to unseat the corresponding surface I20 from the stop rod I2I,thereby unlocking the associated element, and further upward movement ofthe trip moves the selector element from the full to the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 4 against the yielding action of the springplunger I22, where the latter will hold the tripped setting element aslong as needed. If the indicating shuttle should move out of action uponits return to the drop boxes, the indication storing element will remainset but will be shifted laterally with respect to the trip 99. Theindication storing. mechanism thus far described may be similar to thestructure set forth in co-pending application filed by Cederlund andHolmes Serial No. 665,157.

In carrying my invention into effect I have added a stop shoulder I 24to each of the latch members I I 6, the shoulder being moved by thesolenoid to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 to be supported bythe stop rod I2I for the purpose of cooperating with a stud I25longitudinally .adjustable in a short lever I26 for purposes to bedescribed more in detail hereinafter. Each latch carries a surfaceconcentric with pivot rod I08 to engage stop rod I2I for the purpose ofholding the tripped latch in set position as the indicating. elementassociated therewith moves to indicated position shown dotted in Fig. 4.Rod I2I therefore holds the indicated latch against displacement.

The effect of the mechanism described thus far in connection with Figs.2, 3 and 4 is to store an indication of weft exhaustion which may begiven by any depleted weaving shuttle when on the magazine side of theloom and to throw the stop shoulder I24 corresponding to the depletedshuttle into a position where it can interrupt the normal downwardmovement of stud I25. The shifting of the yoke I32 will carry anindicated shoulder out of alignment with stud I25 if the correspondingshuttle passes out of action upon its arrival at the box end of theloom.

Reserve shuttle releasing mechanism The bottom shaft 6 has securedthereto a cam plate I30 which has two alternately operative cams I3I andI32, respectively, see Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 9. Inner cam I3! has a longdwell I33 interrupted by a flat section I3 1 which constitutes risingand falling surfaces. Outer cam I32 is separated from. the flat area I34 by a space I35 slightly greater in width than the diameter of a rollI36 carried by a cam lever I31. Cam' I32 has a steep rise I33 and adwell I39 extending part way around the plate I 35, as shown in Fig. 2.

Lever I31 rocks around a stud I 46 carried by the rear end of boxlifting lever 94 and has piv-,

oted thereto as at I ll the previously described lever I26. Acompression spring Hi2] surrounds a headed bolt I21 which fits intoasocket I28 and is loosely guided by a lug I29 on leverl31, as shown inFig. 2, hold the small lever against an adjustable stop screw I43 onlever I31.

A lifting arm I45 also pivoted as at I40 has an adjustable screw M6 toengage the left end of lever I31 as viewed in Fig. 2, and has pivotedthereto an upwardly extending rod I 41 which controls the releasing ofshuttles from the magazine to be described hereinafter.

Lever I31 has 2. lug I5!) extending laterally therefrom through theslotted lower end of a second upwardly extending rod I52. The upper endof this last rod extends to the shuttle advancing mechanism to bedescribed.

During normal operation rotation of the bottom shaft 6 will result inroll I36 following cam I3I because of the greater weight of the left endof leverl31, Fig. 2. Stud I25 is normallyheld in the raised positionshown in Fig. 2 by the dwell I33, but at the desired time in the cycleof loom operation the fiat surface I34 arrives under the roll and thelever rocks to cause a periodic normal descending movement of the studI25. This downward movement imparts no lift to rod I41 or arm M5 andthese last named parts will therefore remain ineffective to alter theshuttle releasing mechanism. In like manner the lug I55 moves down inthe slotted end I5! of rod I52 without operatively altering the latter.Under normal conditions roll I36 does not engage cam B32.

Should one of the shoulders I24 be in a position to interrupt the normaldownward movement of stud I25, however, the steep incline I38 will pickup the roll I36 and depress the latter, thereby raising the left end oflever I31 to elevate rod I52 and cause lifting of arm I45 to raise therod I 41. The inner end of incline I 38 is located within the projectionof concentric dwell I33 far enough to permit a limited descent of studI25 to shoulder engaging position without causing too abrupt engagementwith roll I36.

The two conditions therefore which result from interruption of normaldownward movement on the part of stud I25 are the raising of rods I 41and I52 which control the shuttle releasing mechanism of the magazineand the shuttle advancer, respectively. The upward movements of rods I41and I52 are preferably limited to cause proper operation of the partswhich they move, and should this motion be less than that which wouldotherwise be imparted to them by lifting of lever 94, the small leverI26 can yield against the action of spring I42 to relieve said rods ofundue strain.

Magazine and shuttle release The magazine M has inner and outer platesI66 and I 6| between which are arranged four stacks A, B, C and D ofdiverse reserve shuttles. The stacks are aranged in two pairs with athin partition I62 between the stacks of each pair, and the pairs may beseparated by a vertical plate I63 having vertical'guide ribs ISA-againstwhich lie adjacent surfaces of the shuttles in the inner stacks. Theinner vertical edge of plate I63 is spaced from the adjacent part of themagazine to afford a thread passage, as shown at 83, Fig. 6. The thinpartitions are also spaced from magazine plate I to define threadpassages 84. The back of the magazine has a brace I65 with shuttleguiding ribs I66, while a front brace I31 is provided with othervertical guide ribs I56. The parts I62, 163 and I61 are supported fromthe outer magazine plate I6I as suggested in Fig. 6.

The magazine has four shuttle releasing rocking shafts I69, I16, Ill andI12 corresponding respectively to stacks A, B, C and D. Each shaft hassecured thereto a shuttle supporting and releasing finger I13 and areserve shuttle holding pad I14 of friction material, such as rubber.Normally the supporting fingers are in the position suggested in Fig. 5so that all of the shuttles in the stacks are supported, but when theshaft of a stack from which a reserve shuttle is to be drawn rocks, thesupporting finger moves from under the lowermost shuttle to permit thesame to fall on supports 22!) and at the same time the supporting padI14 moves into position to prevent descent of the superposed reserveshuttles. These parts may be similar to the corresponding features of mycopending application Serial No. 460,746 to which reference may be hadfor a more complete description of the shuttle releasing and supportingmechanism.

Each rocking shaft has an operating trip finger I15 and said fingers areadapted for depression by one or another of two depressing arms I16secured to a color slide I11 capable of sliding and rocking. Anelongated rib H8 is secured to the slide I11 and is located between apair of fingers 1119 on a rocking lever I80 pivoted about the slide I11.The upper end of lever I83 is connected to a rod I8! the inner end ofwhich is attached to a bell crank lever 1B2 movable about a fixed axisand operatively connected to the upper end of rod I41. Normally the rodI41 is down as already described but when it is raised during theshuttle changing operation it rocks levers I82 and I80 to cause turningof the slide I11 in such a direction as to depress the arms I16 by aforce transmitted through the web I18.

It will therefore be seen that upward movement of rod I41 operates torelease a reserve shuttle from the magazine, since downward movement ofan arm I16 will depress a finger I15 to rock one or another of theshuttle releasing shafts.

Reserve shuttle selector The lever '65 has extending outwardly therefroma rod I85 attached to the rear end of a bell crank color slide movinglever I86 pivoted as at I81 to a fixed bracket 68, see Figs. and 6. Thisconnection permits rocking and sliding of part I11. The relation of thearms I16 and the fingers I15 is set forth in Fig. 6, from which it willbe understood that the spacing of these fingers and arms is such thatrocking of the slide I11 can cause depression of but one finger I15 at atime. The connection 60 which is operatively related to lever 65operates in timed relation with respect to the shifting of the boxes atthe opposite end of the loom and therefore the longitudinal position ofthe color slide I11 is determined by the head motion shown in Fig. andin coordination with but prior to shifting of the gang of boxes-G. Thecolor slide rocks in bearings I9I and I92 supported on the outer end ofthe magazine.

It will be seen that the'structure shown in Figs. 5 and 6 operates toselect a stack corresponding to the depleted shuttle by mechanismcoordinated with the shifting of the drop boxes and effectinglongitudinal motion of slide I11, and also that after the selection ismade the color slide is rocked by rod I41 to effect delivery of thelowermost shuttle in the magazine stack corresponding to the shuttlewhich is to be replaced.

Reserve shuttle advancing mechanism Pivoted on stud I01 is a lever 200normally urged against a cam 20I by a compression spring 202 interposedbetween, the lever and the stand I06, see Figs. 1, 7 and 8. Cam 20I issecured to the top shaft of the loom and makes a revolution each loombeat to move the upper end of the lever forwardly, or to the left inFig. '1, by a force exerted through roll 203. An actuator arm 204 ispivoted as at 205 to the leverand has an elongated arcuate slot I99 theforward end of which communicates with a notch 206 extending downwardlyand defining a shoulder 201. An actuator arm 208 moves about fixed pivot209 and carries a pin 2I0 which extends into the slot I99. A rod 2II ispivoted as at 2I2 to a part of the arm 208 and extends through a web 2I3on one of two connected advancing arms 2I4 pivoted about axis 209. Acompressing spring 2I5 limited by nuts 2I6 exerts a yielding forcebetween the arms 208 and 2M tending to move the latter forwardly or tothe left in Fig. '7 whenever arm 208 is moved forwardly by shoulder 201.

The arms 2I4 have an advancing head 2I1 pivoted thereto from whichextends rearwardly a guide rod 2I8, passing through a fixed guide eye2I9. The lay has a pair of the previously mentioned arcuate shuttlereceiving supports 220 extending rearwardly therefrom along which theadvancer head 2I1 moves during a shuttle changing operation.

Under normal conditions the actuator arm 204 is down, being supported bypin 2I0. A lifting :pin 22I on the upper end of rod I52 extends througha guide slot 222 in the advancer arm and into slot I99. Under theseconditions the actuator arm moves back and forth each beat of the loom,the slot I99 having an idle motion with respect to the pin 2I0, with theresult that the head 2I1 is normally at rest. When the rod I52 is raisedas already described preparatory to a shuttle changing operation the pin22I will elevate the actuator arm so that the shoulder 201 will behorizontally aligned with the pin 2I0, whereupon forward motion of saidarm 204 by the cam will rock the actuator arm in a counter clockwisedirection about axis 209 as viewed in Fig. 7. There results a tendencyto compress spring 2 I 5 which is communicated to the advancer arm andthe latter, unless obstructed by an improperly positioned shuttle, willmove from the full to the dotted line position shown in Fig. '7. Upwardmotion of rod I52 is timed to occur when cam 20I is in such positionthat notch 206 is under pin 2I0.

The advancer head is normally behind the rearmost stack of the magazineso that a shuttle dropping from said stack, as indicated in Fig. '1,will fall in front of the head. The guide rod 2I8 and eye 2 I 9 serve tohold the head in correct position with respect to the fresh reserveshuttle as the latter slides along the supports 220. The pin 22I willordinarily be held up by surface I39 of cam I3I long enough to maintaindriving relation between the shoulder 201 and the pin 2I0 throughout theshuttle advancing operation, but I do not wish to be limited to thisarrangement for maintaining operative connection between the shoulderand actuator pin.

The cam 20I accompanies the forward motion of the advancing head by anincline 223, and the cam also has a high dwell 224 which maintains thehead and therefore the reserve shuttle in proper position to drop intothe shuttle box to be described for a sufiioiently long time to insurecorrect boxing. As the cam 20I continues to turn the spring 202 returnsthe actuator head to its rear position and the rod I52 is. released tofall so that arm I45 can again drop to permit slot I99 to be alignedwith the actuator pin 2I0. It should be noted that when the head whichmoves the incoming shuttle is in its extreme forward position it issubstantially aligned with the front center partition of the magazine asindicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7. While this is desirable, yet I donot consider it an essential relation. Movement of a reserve shuttlefrom the front stack toward the lay in a manner to be describedhereinafter is facilitated by having the head in the dotted lineposition in Fig. '1 to serve as a guide and continuation of theaforesaid front center partition, but it will be understood that so faras this front cell is concerned the advancing head does not move theshuttle forwardly by any appreciable amount as is the case with thecells behind the front stack.

Reserve shuttle receiving mechanism That end of the lay adjacent themagazine will be provided with upper and lower shuttle boxes 230 and23I, respectively, see Figs. 1 and 7, the boxes being normally down sothat the upper box is active and opposite a shuttle binder 232 which issubstantially fixed with respect to the lay and does not share therising and falling movements of the boxes. It will be noted with respectto Fig. 7 that the box structure comprises a back wall 233 which is infront of the lay plate 2 and it will further be seen that the forwardends of against a stop I95 on. said lever.

indicated in Fig. 1.

the lay moves rearwardly the cover 236 will bethe supports 220 extendforwardly as at 235 beyond the front surface of the guide plate 2sufficiently to direct a reserve shuttle downwardly into the top boxwhen the cover 236 for the latter is raised. The cover has. a rib 234extending downwardly to engage the rear wall of a shuttle being insertedinto box 230, and this rib aligns with the wall 233. The cover and itsrib are notched as at 231, Fig. 19, to permit raising of the coverwithout interference with the overhand 235.

The cover 236 has a lug I83 to engage a stationary cam I84 carried bythe magazine during the rearward motion of the lay on a shuttle changingbeat. The box 230 will rise soon enough to effect this engagement andthe cam will throw the cover up to the dotted position shown in Fig. 7in time to receive the incoming shuttle at back center. Furthermore, thebox structure has an abutment I93 to engage a detector withdrawing armI94 pivoted to lever 86 and resting normally When box 233 is descendingafter receiving a reserve shuttle and the lay is advancing, the abutmentwill strike arm ,I94 and rock lever 86 to carry the detector forwardlyfar enough to clear the moving box and fresh shuttle.

'I'hepreviously described dog H4 is pivoted to an actuator lever 240moving about the fixed pin In! by means of a cam Hi. This cam may beformed as indicated in Fig. 1 and operates in substantially the samemanner as does corresponding structure shown in my aforesaid applicationSerial No. 585,564. When one of the indication storing elements directsthe dog under the ledge 238 of lever 94, see Fig. 4, the latter will beraised by upward movement of the forward end of actuator 240 withresultant upward movement of a boxlifter rod 242 whicliis operativelyconnected to the box lifter lever 94 by structure When the boxes riseand raised from the full to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 7 bymechanism not set forth herein but shown in aforesaid application SerialNo. 460,746, the result of which is to leave the top of box 230 open sothat a shuttle which has been moved forwardly by the advancer head willbe able to drop into the upper box 230 by gravity, falling along thewall 233. As cam 24! continues to turn the boxes will descend and the.incoming shuttle will be brought into engagement with the stationarybinder, being caught between the latter'and the back wall of the shuttlebox. The frictional contact between the box back and the shuttle assistsmaterially in moving the incoming shuttle down as the boxes fall, thismotion further being aided by the cover 236 which moves back to the fullline position shown in Fig. 7 as the boxes descend. For a furtherdescription of the mechanism for raising the boxes 230 and 23I,reference may be had to the last named application.

Operation In normal operation, the pattern chain will have an advancemovement each beat of the loom and the boxesv will shift according tothe desired pattern to render active any one of the weaving shuttles S,S S and S The pattern 7 chain will be built with the bars in pairs sincethere is no shifting on that beat of the loom when the active shuttle isat the magazine side.

With each shift of the boxes there will be a corresponding motion oflever 50, which occurs,

however, before box movement, the indication for the color vibratorsbeing one pick in advance of the indication for the box motion, and thecolor cylinder section being delayed so that it does not pick up thecolor vibrator gears until after the weft detector has had anopportunity to operate. The color selector at the magazine andthe groupof indication storing elements will therefore remain in register withthe active shuttle when the latter is at the magazine endsuiiicientlylong to permit the detector to set the storing element corresponding tothe. detected shuttle. .Immediately thereafter, however, the colorselector and storing elements begin to shift.

Fig. 18 shows the time relations of the several parts of the invention,two complete beats of the loom being represented. The top tierrepresents the position of the active shuttle with reference to the laypositions indicated by the bottom tier #10. In the latter, F. C.standsfor front center position of the lay; Top C. for the top center;

boxed at the magazine end, the detector will be detecting, asrepresented by the shaded area in tier #2. Shortly after this F. C.position the effective movement of the parts represented in tiers #1, #3and #4 will start and continue until the lay is nearer back center thantop center. The area in tier #2 shadedin dotted lines represents entryof the feeler into the shuttle box 230 when the active shuttle is at thedrop box end and no detection is possible. The color vibrator positionis shown in tier #8 and the period of engagement for the color vibratorgear is shown by the shaded area in tier #9. The difference in lengthbetween the shaded area of tier #9 and those of tiers #1, #3 and #4represents the unlocking of the vibrator connector, as alreadyexplained.

The selected reserve shuttle is released as indicated by the shaded areain tier #5after the selector has come to rest, and thereafter thereserve shuttle advancer comes into action at a time indicated. 'by thesolid line shaded area in tier #6, the time interval between these areaspermitting the shuttle to cease vibration due to falling. The dottedline area in the latter tier represents the forward motion of head 204occurring during part of the time the active shuttle is boxed at thermagazine end and is moving toward the drop boxes, this motion ofhead2il4 being without effect, since it starts before reserve shuttlerelease. Head 284 is preferably back in rearmost position before reserveshuttle release, see tiers #5 and #6, to insure placing of the pusherhead 2II behind the rearmost stack of reserve shuttles.

Since lever I31 controls head 204 as well as the shuttle release, thereis a further reason for delaying shuttle releasing, namely, to permitunobstructed up motion of head 204 if necessary. This is apparent fromFig. 18, where the dwell between shaded areas suggests that the advancerhead is back before the reserve shuttle is released. While I have showna one-pick cam for operating the advancer head ZI'I yet I do not wish tobe limited to this construction.

The reserve shuttle advancer completes its forward motion and places thereserve shuttle in correct vertical position for change before the layreaches back center when the active shuttle is moving toward themagazine end, and the box 230 is also up by action of cam 24I, dog H4and lever 94 before the same back center, as shown by the shaded areasin tiers #6 and #7. As the lay reaches back center, therefore, theincoming shuttle, being backed by head 2!", falls into the raised box230. Box 230 is represented as up at top center to permit cover lug I83to engage cam. v I84 and raise the cover.

Head 2!! then recedes, but the boxes 23!! and 23! remain raised untilthe ensuing bottom center, or slightly thereafter, to permit theoutgoing depleted shuttle to enter box 23L After boxing, the boxesdescend to permit the depleted shuttle to be ejected under thestationary binder by lay motion when the lay is at front center, asindicated at the right end of Fig. 18, where the shuttle changing boxesare represented as down, permitting picking of the freshly insertedreserve shuttle.

The timing suggested in Fig. 18 is desirable, but I do not wish to belimited to the exact relations or intervals represented. The variousparts already described will be set to give the sequences illustrated.

The control exercised by the indication storing mechanism is such that ashuttle giving'indication of exhaustion and on the magazine side caneffect setting of its corresponding storing element and then move out ofaction when next arriving at the drop box end, after which anothershuttle may become active and which during its period of activity may bereplaced without loss of the indication given by the first shuttle.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a multicolorshuttle changing loom capable of operation with more than two shuttlesand wherein the weft detector is on the magazine side. It will also beseen that the pattern control is so constructed that the shifting of thecolor selector and indication featuring mechanisms is delayed until theweft detector has had time to operate, thereby insuring registry betweenthe active shuttle being detected and its corre-. sponding indicatingelement.

This result as ac.- complished by the specific means set forth hereinincludes a pattern chain having an auxiliary section built like the mainsection but one pick in.

advance thereof, together with the modified form of mutilated cylinderfor the vibrator gear which will effect the desired delay to beexercised by the color selection. Furthermore, the cam which controlslever I3! is capable of giving said lever two different motions one ofwhich is normal and the other of which is due to interruption ofthenormal motion byone or another of the indication storing elements. Theshuttle advancing head 2 I! is preferably so constructed as to maintaina more or less parallel relationship with re- 7 changing operation thanhas been the practice heretofore.

The shuttle changing mechanism herein shown and described is not claimedin this application but forms the subject matter of a divisionalapplication Serial No. 88,649, filed by me July 2, 1936.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes andmodifications may be made ltherein by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit'and scope of the invention and I do not wishto be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a multicolor shuttle changing loom operating with a plurality ofweaving shuttles any one of which may become active, a plurality ofgroups of reserve shuttles, a pattern surface to determine which weavingshuttle is to be active, a set of movable reserve shuttle selectorsdependent for their position upon the pattern surface, Weft detectorcontrolled means to move the selector corresponding to the activeshuttle from normal to abnormal position, a plurality of reserve shuttlereleasing means, an operating cam having two different surfaces, a leverrendered capable by one of the surfaces to move into cooperativerelationship with a selector in abnormal position, the latter selectorthereupon holding the lever inthe path of the other surface to cause thelever to become operatively related to the second surface, and operativeconnections between the lever and the reserve shuttle releasing meansoperated by the second surface of the cam.

2. In a shuttle changing loom operating with a plurality of weavingshuttles any one of which may become active, a pluralityof groups ofreserve shuttles, a pattern surface todetermine which weaving shuttle isto be active, a plurality of reserve shuttle releasing mechanisms, a setof movable reserve shuttle selectors, one for each weaving shuttle, saidselectors dependent for their position upon the pattern surface, weft detector controlled means operative upon exhaustion of the active shuttleto move the selector corresponding to the active'shuttle from normal toabnormal position, a lever having a normal movement toward and beyondthe abnormal position of the selectors and having its motion interrupted by a selector in abnormal position, means to give the lever aworking stroke when its motion is interrupted, and operative connectionsbetween the lever and the reserve shuttle releasing mechanism effectivewhen the lever has a working stroke to release a reserve shuttlecorresponding to the shuttle which renders the weft detector controlledmeans operative.

3. In a multicolor shuttle changing loom operating with a plurality ofweaving shuttles any one of which may become active, a plurality ofgroups of reserve shuttles, a pattern surface to determine which weavingshuttle is to be active, a plurality of reserve shuttle. releasingmechanisms, one for each weaving shuttle, a set of reserve shuttleselectors, one for each weaving shuttle, dependent for their positionsupon the pattern surface, weft detector controlled means operative uponexhaustion of weft in an active shuttle to move the selectorcorresponding thereto from normal to abnormal position, a member havinga regularly recurring motion toward and beyond the abnormal position ofa selector and movable in a fixed path with respect to which theselectors move, motion of the member to be interrupted by a selector inabnormal position and lying in said path, means to move the member awayfrom a selector in abnormal position when movement of the member isinterrupted by a selector in abnormal position, and connectionsoperatively related to the member and effective when the latter movesaway from the selector to operate the reserve shuttle releasingmechanism corresponding to the selector in abnormal position.

4. In a shuttle changing loom operating with a plurality of weavingshuttles any one of which shuttle releasing mechanism for each weavingshuttle, a selector for each reserve shuttle releasing mechanism, amember moving regularly toward the selectors along a path with'respectto which the selectors move so that each selector is movable to aposition adjacent said path, weft detector operated means to move theselector corresponding to an active depleted shuttle from normaltoabnormal position and into said path to interrupt the motion of saidmember, means to move the member away from the selectors when movementof the member isinterrupted by a selector, and operative connectionsbetween the member and reserve shuttle releasing mechanisms effectivewhen the member moves away from the selectors to actuate the releasemechanism corresponding to the selector lyingin the path of the member.

5. In a multicolor shuttle changing loom, a multicolor reserve shuttlemagazine, shifting shuttle boxes, a reserve shuttle selector for themagazine, a pattern surface to control the shuttle boxes, a patternsurface to control the selector similar to the boxsurface but set aheadof the latter by an interval of one beat of the loom, and meanscooperating with the selector pattern surfaceto effect movement of theselectorprior, to motion of the shuttle boxes by an intervalsubstantially'less than one beat of the loom.

6. In a multicolor shuttle changing loom, a weft detector to operate ata given detecting point in the loom cycle, a multicolor reserve shuttlemagazine, a selector to determine the type of reserve shuttleto bereleased by the magazine, shifting shuttle boxes to cooperate with aplurality of weaving shuttles, a box pattern surface for the shiftingboxes, a selector pattern surface for the selector similar to the firstpattern surface but giving its indications one beat of the loom prior tothe indications of the box pattern surface, indicators for both patternsurfaces, an actuator for the box pattern surface indicators effectiveto move the latter at a given box'point in the cycle of loom operations,a second actuator for the indicators of the selector pattern surfaceeffective to actuate the indicators corresponding to the selectorpattern surface later than said detecting point and prior to said boxpoint in the cycle of loom operations, and operative connections betweenthe selector indicators and the selector.

'7. In a multicolor shuttle changing loom, a weft detector operating ata detecting point in the loom cycle, a multicolor reserve shuttlemagazine, shifting shuttle boxes cooperating with a plurality of weavingshuttles, a selector for the magazine to determine the type of reserveshuttle to be released by said magazine, a pair of rotary actuatoreffective to move the selector after the detecting point and in advanceof a shift of the shuttle boxes by an interval substantially less thanone beat of the loom. l

8. In a multicolor shuttle changing loom, a weft detector operating at adetecting point in the loom cycle, a multicolor reserve shuttlemag:

'azine, a selector to determine the type of reserve shuttle to bereleased by the magazine, shifting shuttle boxes, a box pattern surfacefor the shiftingshuttle boxes, indicators for the box pattern surfaceoperatively related to the shuttle boxes, a selector pattern surfacesimilar to the main pattern surface but having its indications steppedahead of those of the main pattern surface by an interval correspondingto one beat of the loom, indicators for the selector pattern surfaceoperatively connected to the selector, a regularly moving actuator forthe indicators of the box pattern surface to engage the indicators forthe latter at a given box point in the loom cycle, a second actuator,and means to operatively relate the indicatorsof the selector patternsurface to the second actuator after said detecting point and asubstantial interval of time before said box point inthe cycle of loomoperations.

9. In a multi-shuttle shuttle changing loom, a reserve shuttle selector,an actuator therefor having a regularly recurring non-operative strokeand having an operative stroke when the regularly recurring stroke isinterrupted, shifting shuttle boxes, a set of indication storingelements moving in timed relation with respect to the boxes so that butone element at a time is aligned with the actuator, a weft detector, aninterrupting member carried by each element normally out of the path ofthe actuator, and means controlled by the detector when givingindication of weft exhaustion in an active shuttle to move theinterrupting member corresponding to the active shuttle intointerrupting position with respect to the actuator.

10, In a multicolor shuttle changing loom operating with shiftingshuttle boxes and operating in a cycle having a period of calling andshifting the shuttle boxes, a multicolor reserve magazine at one end ofthe loom, a weft detector at the same end of the loom, a selector todetermine the type of reserve shuttle to be released by the magazine, alay to move forward to present the active shuttle to the detector, andcontrol pattern means for the' selector effective when the activeshuttle is on the magazine side of the loom to effect a shift of theselector immediately following operation of the detector, said shift tooccur bfifore said period and anticipating and corresponding to a boxshift to occur during said period when the active shuttle is in theshifting boxes on the next beat of the loom.

11 In a multicolor shuttle changing loom operating with shifting shuttleboxes and operating in a cycle having a period for calling and shiftingthe shuttle boxes, a multicolor reserve shuttle magazine, a selectortodetermine the type of reserve shuttle to be released by the magazine,a lay having back and forth movements in the loom, a detector on themagazine side ofthe loom rendered operative to detect the condition ofthe active shuttle by forward movementof the lay, a pattern surface tocontrol the selector, and means to render the pattern surface for theselector operative to remove said selector immediately after thedetector has operated and before said period in anticipation of a shiftof the shuttle "lector, a weft detector, a member normally out of thepath of the actuator, and means controlled by the detector to move themember into interrupting relation with respect to the actuator when thedetector indicates exhaustion of weft in the active shuttle and causethe actuator to move the selector.

13. In a multi-color shuttle changing loom, a weft detector, amulti-color reserve shuttle magazine, a shuttle selector therefor,connections between the detector and selector to set the latter forcontrol of the magazine when the detector indicates weft exhaustion,shifting shuttle boxes, a selector pattern surface having a sequence ofelements to control the selector, a box pattern surface having a similarsequence of elements to control the shifting shuttle boxes, actuatorscontrolled by the pattern surfaces to actuate the selector and theshifting shuttle boxes, support means for the pattern surfaces toholdthe two surfaces with their sequences offset with respect to each othera distance corresponding to less than one beat of the loom, and means tomove the support tocause the selector pattern surface to move theactuator corresponding thereto immediately after indication of weftexhaustion of the detector and prior to movement of the box actuator bythe box pattern surface.

14. In a multi-shuttle shuttle changing loom, shifting shuttle boxesoperating with a plurality of distinctive Weaving shuttles, a set ofindicating elements, means to move the elements in timed relation withthe shifting of the boxes, 5

there being an element for each weaving shuttle, a projectionoperatively related to each element, a reserve shuttle magazine havinggroups of reserve shuttles corresponding to the weaving shuttles, areserve shuttle selector for the magazine to release a selected reserveshuttle, an actuator .for the selector, means to move the actuatorrelatively to the groups and in timed relation with the elements, meansto move the actuator toward the elements, means to cause the actuator tooperate the selector and cause the latter to releasea selected reserveshuttle when the actuator engages any projection, said projections beingnormally out of operative relation with respect to the actuator, a weftdetector to initiate a shuttle changing operation of the loom, andconnections between the detector and elements to move the projection ofan element corresponding to the depleted shuttle into position forengagement by the actuator and thereby cause the actuator to operate theselector.

RICHARD GREENLEAF TURNER.

